The Frequency of Sustainability Logos on Food Packaging in Chain Supermarkets in Turkey: The Balıkesir Example
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v14i6.1536-1541.8605Keywords:
Sustainability, food packing, labelling, sustainable food, chain marketsAbstract
To evaluate the presence of sustainability-related logos on food product packaging sold in chain grocery stores in the province of Balıkesir. A total of 1,039 products across eight categories, including meat, dairy products (both animal- and plant-based), vegetables, fruit, sauces, cereals, ready meals and snacks, were analysed through direct observation in three different chain grocery stores. The packaging was examined for sustainability indicators, such as organic produce, recyclable packaging, sustainable seafood, the Green Dot logo, European Union, Fairtrade and carbon footprint logos, and GMO-free, animal welfare, vegetarian and vegan labels. Descriptive statistical analyses (frequency and percentage) were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 26. Each logo type was coded as present or absent, and the results were summarised according to product category to ensure methodological transparency. 67.0% of the analysed products had at least one sustainability-related logo. The most common were the Green Dot logo (29.5%) and the recyclable packaging logo (29.0%), while the organic farming logo (2.5%), vegan logo (2.4%), Good Agricultural Practices logo (1.9%), and Forest Stewardship Council logo (1.4%) were found less frequently. The sustainable seafood logo, the European Union organic farming logo and the carbon footprint and FairTrade logos were not present. The visibility of sustainability logos on food packaging is limited. To enhance consumer awareness and promote environmentally responsible production and consumption practices, it is recommended that the use of sustainability labels is increased and more comprehensive research on this topic is conducted.
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